| Vaccinations from a Holistic Approach |
| March 11, 2010 |
Tapeworm - Your kitty can only get this if they have fleas - they will
groom themselves and ingest the fleas that carry this parasite. Your
Keitta Kitty will NOT have fleas! Your kitty will show signs of weight
loss while still having a very large appetite. Tapeworms rob your kitty
of food and nutrients in much the same way as the roundworm.
groom themselves and ingest the fleas that carry this parasite. Your
Keitta Kitty will NOT have fleas! Your kitty will show signs of weight
loss while still having a very large appetite. Tapeworms rob your kitty
of food and nutrients in much the same way as the roundworm.
This guide, The Truth about Pet Vaccinations is written by
Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM of Canada. He writes a book called
Veterinary Secrets Revealed that can be purchased. This
PDF pamphlet provides a concise summary of when to
vaccinate, when not to, and what vaccines to get.
Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM of Canada. He writes a book called
Veterinary Secrets Revealed that can be purchased. This
PDF pamphlet provides a concise summary of when to
vaccinate, when not to, and what vaccines to get.
The Immune System by Dr. W. Jean Dodd, DVM
Adverse Vaccination Reactions by Dr. W. Jean Dodd, DVM
| Both of the above articles are well researched. The main site they come from, Its For The Animals! by Helen McKinnon, has a lot of other info related to natural and homeopathic care of pets and further information on vaccinations |
| For other information on our website regarding the immune system, go to the web page Kitty Stress |
| "Some of the diseases that our cats are routinely vaccinated against are not as serious as the possible consequences of the vaccination itself." |
| "While the initial vaccination of kittens is required, and perhaps necessary, your cat shouldn't be automatically vaccinated each year." |
| American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): "there currently exists inadequate data to scientifically determine a single best protocol for vaccination or revaccination." |
| "The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): animals should not be vaccinated needlessly, or with vaccines that prevent diseases that the animal is not reasonably at risk of contracting." |
|
| For a more comprehensive listing of vaccines & rationales of when and if to give, please see THIS article from Drs Foster & Smith |
Keitta Siberians OPPOSES any of the following vaccines - Feline Leukemia,
FIV, FIP, Giardia, Bordetella, or rabies booster vaccinations. Many
veterinarians will try to get you to vaccinate your kitty - IT IS YOUR
RIGHT TO REFUSE VACCINATIONS. You are looking out for the health
of your kitty. You are their advocate, because they cannot speak for
themselves.
Keitta Siberians DOES SUPPORT as necessary, however, ANNUAL
CHECKUPS for your Siberian. Annual screening is important to pick up on
any insidious disease processes (specifically, HCM)
FIV, FIP, Giardia, Bordetella, or rabies booster vaccinations. Many
veterinarians will try to get you to vaccinate your kitty - IT IS YOUR
RIGHT TO REFUSE VACCINATIONS. You are looking out for the health
of your kitty. You are their advocate, because they cannot speak for
themselves.
Keitta Siberians DOES SUPPORT as necessary, however, ANNUAL
CHECKUPS for your Siberian. Annual screening is important to pick up on
any insidious disease processes (specifically, HCM)
| Worms (ewwwwww) and their treatments - when is it necessary? |
Roundworm - these are actual worms that are
considered parasites, taking up residence in your cat
and robbing them of nutrition and making them cough,
feel sick to their stomach & vomit. Keitta kitties are
round worm-free because we automatically worm them
along with their mothers at 8 weeks & 11 weeks with
Pyrantel. The reason worming is recommended (and why
we do this) is because the birthing process can activate
dormant roundworm larvae that may be in momma's gut,
and these can be passed on to the newborns in a number
of ways. Babies & their mothers are wormed twice to
catch the worm in the correct stage of their life cycle
where they are sensitive to the medication (Pyrantel).
considered parasites, taking up residence in your cat
and robbing them of nutrition and making them cough,
feel sick to their stomach & vomit. Keitta kitties are
round worm-free because we automatically worm them
along with their mothers at 8 weeks & 11 weeks with
Pyrantel. The reason worming is recommended (and why
we do this) is because the birthing process can activate
dormant roundworm larvae that may be in momma's gut,
and these can be passed on to the newborns in a number
of ways. Babies & their mothers are wormed twice to
catch the worm in the correct stage of their life cycle
where they are sensitive to the medication (Pyrantel).
Heartworm - many veterinarians are now recommending annual treatment for these
worms, just like you would treat your dog. The vector (carrier) of the heartworm
parasite is a mosquito. The cat is not its natural host which means the migrating larval
heartworm is not likely to complete its life cycle. The migrating worm uses molecular sign
posts to tell it how to get to its host’s pulmonary arteries. The worm is prepared to read
CANINE directions and may get lost in the feline body ending up who knows where. Most
of the larvae that actually make it to the pulmonary artery die soon afterwards due to
the massive immune attack from the feline body. Very few larval heartworms survive to
adulthood in the cat. But unlike in the dog, it only takes a couple of adult worms to
compromise the cat's cardiovascular & pulmonary systems. Currently it is thought that
there is an incidence of 2 - 14% of cats infected (and what they do not tell you is if the
cats were outdoor or indoor cats). Heartworm disease in the cat is caused by the
inflammatory reaction generated by the worm’s presence, and is primarily expressed as a
lung disease rather than heart disease.
So, do you or do you not treat your kitty for this? If you take your kitty outdoors for
walks on a leash, or have them outdoors on a porch a lot where mosquitoes may be
present, maybe. If they are spoiled, rotten indoor kitties, probably not.
worms, just like you would treat your dog. The vector (carrier) of the heartworm
parasite is a mosquito. The cat is not its natural host which means the migrating larval
heartworm is not likely to complete its life cycle. The migrating worm uses molecular sign
posts to tell it how to get to its host’s pulmonary arteries. The worm is prepared to read
CANINE directions and may get lost in the feline body ending up who knows where. Most
of the larvae that actually make it to the pulmonary artery die soon afterwards due to
the massive immune attack from the feline body. Very few larval heartworms survive to
adulthood in the cat. But unlike in the dog, it only takes a couple of adult worms to
compromise the cat's cardiovascular & pulmonary systems. Currently it is thought that
there is an incidence of 2 - 14% of cats infected (and what they do not tell you is if the
cats were outdoor or indoor cats). Heartworm disease in the cat is caused by the
inflammatory reaction generated by the worm’s presence, and is primarily expressed as a
lung disease rather than heart disease.
So, do you or do you not treat your kitty for this? If you take your kitty outdoors for
walks on a leash, or have them outdoors on a porch a lot where mosquitoes may be
present, maybe. If they are spoiled, rotten indoor kitties, probably not.
Ringworm - this is NOT a worm at all, but a
fungus - the same fungus that causes athletes
foot. Your Keitta kitty will NOT have ringworm! It
is contracted in warm, moist environments, and
typically found when there are large numbers of
cats living together in close confines and with
compromised immune systems (i.e. poor nutrition,
high stress). This is one condition that is
contagious from cat to human - you can 'catch'
ringworm from handling a pet who has this.
fungus - the same fungus that causes athletes
foot. Your Keitta kitty will NOT have ringworm! It
is contracted in warm, moist environments, and
typically found when there are large numbers of
cats living together in close confines and with
compromised immune systems (i.e. poor nutrition,
high stress). This is one condition that is
contagious from cat to human - you can 'catch'
ringworm from handling a pet who has this.
| Click on the name of the 'worm/pest' to go to information from MarVista Vet (great educational site from this LA animal hospital) |
| Information on the public health issues with roundworms |
| Other communicable pests of concern |
Ear mites are very tiny 'bugs' that like to live in a warm, moist
environment - like a kitty's ear - with ear wax to nestle into, eat,
grow and breed. Your Keitta Kitties will NOT have ear mites!!!
We have had veterinarian's comment that we have the 'cleanest
ears I have ever seen' in a cat before. How does a cat get ear
mites. By exposure to other pets with ear mites. You can only
see ear mites themselves as a white speck with the naked eye,
but more easily see the discharge from the ear they cause -
composed of ear wax, blood, inflammatory biochemicals, and ear
mites themselves. This gives the discharge sort of a black/dark
brown color, and sometimes looks like fine coffee grinds. A cat
will let you know they have ear mites by constantly shaking their
head (which is one way they can 'spray' ear mites into the
environment for other cats to be exposed to), and itching their
ears and the ear canal. Ear mites can harm the kitty's hearing if
it goes unnoticed for a very long period of time or ignored.
Otherwise, this nuisance pest, makes kitty's life miserable, but
is easily treated.
In a multiple pet households, all pets
have to be treated, even if it appears
only one cat/dog has mites.
environment - like a kitty's ear - with ear wax to nestle into, eat,
grow and breed. Your Keitta Kitties will NOT have ear mites!!!
We have had veterinarian's comment that we have the 'cleanest
ears I have ever seen' in a cat before. How does a cat get ear
mites. By exposure to other pets with ear mites. You can only
see ear mites themselves as a white speck with the naked eye,
but more easily see the discharge from the ear they cause -
composed of ear wax, blood, inflammatory biochemicals, and ear
mites themselves. This gives the discharge sort of a black/dark
brown color, and sometimes looks like fine coffee grinds. A cat
will let you know they have ear mites by constantly shaking their
head (which is one way they can 'spray' ear mites into the
environment for other cats to be exposed to), and itching their
ears and the ear canal. Ear mites can harm the kitty's hearing if
it goes unnoticed for a very long period of time or ignored.
Otherwise, this nuisance pest, makes kitty's life miserable, but
is easily treated.
In a multiple pet households, all pets
have to be treated, even if it appears
only one cat/dog has mites.
| It is important to see your vet if you suspect ear mites so that a differential diagnosis can confirm mites versus a bacterial or fungal ear infection. |
Heartworms - info from Only Natural Pet Store
